Moving to DC. Kids will be in K and PK-3 in the Fall -where to begin?

[Anonymous]

Hi! We are relocating to DC in about a month for work and are trying to figure out where to begin. Our understanding is that since we’ve missed the deadline for the lottery we should plan to rent in-boundary for a school we are ok with for our kindergartener, and hope she can pull in the 3 year old. My husband’s soon to be office is in NOMA and mine will be between DuPont and Logan Circle. We’ll be renting at first with the intent to buy in a year or so. Prefer to live east of the park and keep rent below $4k per month (less if we are going to have to send the 3yo to private preschool.) Where do we begin? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

If I were you, I'd rent in boundary for Seaton, Thomson, or Garrison. All would likely be able to get your three year old in as IB with sibling enrolled and will work for your K kid for several years (or longer). You could do the same on the Hill at Brent, Maury, or Ludlow-Taylor, but with a slightly more annoying commute.

When you buy, you'll likely have the choice to keep your kids at the school where they start or to move them to the new IB school. DCPS guidance on this is fuzzy and changes all the time but most people find this works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were you, I'd rent in boundary for Seaton, Thomson, or Garrison. All would likely be able to get your three year old in as IB with sibling enrolled and will work for your K kid for several years (or longer). You could do the same on the Hill at Brent, Maury, or Ludlow-Taylor, but with a slightly more annoying commute.

When you buy, you'll likely have the choice to keep your kids at the school where they start or to move them to the new IB school. DCPS guidance on this is fuzzy and changes all the time but most people find this works.

I'd post lottery app now for Hyde-Addison and Frances Stevens with planted addresses-- your K will likely pull in your PK3 at both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi! We are relocating to DC in about a month for work and are trying to figure out where to begin. Our understanding is that since we’ve missed the deadline for the lottery we should plan to rent in-boundary for a school we are ok with for our kindergartener, and hope she can pull in the 3 year old. My husband’s soon to be office is in NOMA and mine will be between DuPont and Logan Circle. We’ll be renting at first with the intent to buy in a year or so. Prefer to live east of the park and keep rent below $4k per month (less if we are going to have to send the 3yo to private preschool.) Where do we begin? Thanks!

Sounds like your work will be near Ross. Great community of families living in the neighborhood, but no PK3 this coming year. Housing will be tough--it's a tiny boundary in an expensive area. But the school is small and close-knit.

[Anonymous]

If I were you I will rent in Shepherd Park. You will probably get inbound for pk3 and k for SES. It is a great school and great neighborhood. It is affordable if you rent but not that affordable to buy. There is not a lot of houses to rent though You could walk to the red line and metro to NoMA and DuPont. I do that every morning (Noma). Btw my neighbor is renting her place for one year or so and it is probably within your budget. Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were you I will rent in Shepherd Park. You will probably get inbound for pk3 and k for SES. It is a great school and great neighborhood. It is affordable if you rent but not that affordable to buy. There is not a lot of houses to rent though You could walk to the red line and metro to NoMA and DuPont. I do that every morning (Noma). Btw my neighbor is renting her place for one year or so and it is probably within your budget. Good luck

I cosign this rec. But agree there are very few rentals (I looked here a year before buying and couldn't find any).

[Anonymous]

I would rent inbounds for Maury or Ludlow Taylor, as close as possible to a Metro. Maury because it’s just a wonderful school; LT because it’s a good school where your 3 yo might actually get in and the location is better for a Metro commute (and probably a walking commute to NoMA). Your budget will get you a nice house.

[Anonymous]

I would rent in a place where you have longer term achool optipns. Ross is fine long term but a lot of The other school suggested are not options you want past 2-4th grade. You need to think about the middle school fees now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would rent in a place where you have longer term achool optipns. Ross is fine long term but a lot of The other school suggested are not options you want past 2-4th grade. You need to think about the middle school fees now.

There aren’t many EOTP (her preference) neighborhood elementaries with a middle school feeding pattern that will appeal to everyone. Lots of people inbounds for Stuart send their kids there and obviously Shepherd Park sends its kids to Deal, but most people EOTP figure things out as they move along through school. With two very young kids and a plan to rent at first, I think it’s fine to consider only as far as 5th grade for now.

We are inbounds for Eliot-Hine and most of our friends with middle schoolers have their kids at Basis, Latin, SH, or DCI.

[Anonymous]

Your future self will thank you if you move WOTP park along the redline. Best for ease of commute and top schools. DuPont for Ross. Cleveland Park for Eaton. And Van Ness for Hearst/Murch.

[Anonymous]

It’s almost impossible to get into Latin these days, and DCI isn’t great if you had a kid in non language immersion school. Which leaves Basis, which isn’t for every kid, and SH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your future self will thank you if you move WOTP park along the redline. Best for ease of commute and top schools. DuPont for Ross. Cleveland Park for Eaton. And Van Ness for Hearst/Murch.

This. But if you insist on EOTP, try for a Stuart-Hobson feeder. Or Seaton-- you can definitely live in Bloomingdale for $4K a month, and your K will easily get in OOB and pull in the sibling. Last year I got into Seaton as a post-lottery applicant for K in early summer. You might really love Bloomingdale-- tons of kids and a pool!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi! We are relocating to DC in about a month for work and are trying to figure out where to begin. Our understanding is that since we’ve missed the deadline for the lottery we should plan to rent in-boundary for a school we are ok with for our kindergartener, and hope she can pull in the 3 year old. My husband’s soon to be office is in NOMA and mine will be between DuPont and Logan Circle. We’ll be renting at first with the intent to buy in a year or so. Prefer to live east of the park and keep rent below $4k per month (less if we are going to have to send the 3yo to private preschool.) Where do we begin? Thanks!

What will be your budget for buying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were you I will rent in Shepherd Park. You will probably get inbound for pk3 and k for SES. It is a great school and great neighborhood. It is affordable if you rent but not that affordable to buy. There is not a lot of houses to rent though You could walk to the red line and metro to NoMA and DuPont. I do that every morning (Noma). Btw my neighbor is renting her place for one year or so and it is probably within your budget. Good luck

I cosign this rec. But agree there are very few rentals (I looked here a year before buying and couldn't find any).

I saw a house on Jonquil (or maybe Juniper, but I think Jonquil) right at 14th Street -- like, two blocks from Shepherd -- with a "for rent" sign this week! Pretty sure it was a Long & Foster sign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your future self will thank you if you move WOTP park along the redline. Best for ease of commute and top schools. DuPont for Ross. Cleveland Park for Eaton. And Van Ness for Hearst/Murch.

I recommend this as well. Or AU park for Janney. I’ve seen quite a few for rent signs in the area lately!